Account of Trial, [, Hancock Co., IL], 24–28 May 1845, State of IL v. Williams et al. (Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court 1845); handwriting of ; 101 pages; Wilford Wood Museum, Bountiful, UT; images in Joseph Smith Murder Trial Papers, 1844–1845, CHL.
then read as follows from the pamphlet and asked the witness if the facts as narrated were true, to wit:
“The ruffian who set him (Smith) against the well curb, now gathered a bowie knife for the purpose of severing his head from his body. He raised his knife, and was in the attitude of striking, when a light so sudden and powerful burst from the Heavens upon the bloody scene, passing its vivid chain between Joseph and his Murderers, that they were struck with terrified awe, and filled with Consternation. this light in its appearance and potency baffles all powers of description. The arm of the ruffian who held the knife, fell powerless; the muskets of the four, who fired, fell to the ground, and they all stood like marble statues, not having the powerto movea single limb of their bodies”.
The witness said in reply, that he had <“I> stated the facts to ,— I told him after, the book was written of the mistakes it contained— I did not tell him about the “Bowie Knife”— In speaking of the men after they shot Smith, I have said that after they shot him, they stood there—”
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